Overshoe having heel-abutting element



Oct. 24, 1950 v c. A. RILEY 2,526,774

OVERSHOE HAVING HEEL-ABUTTING ELEMENT Filed Oct. 11, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jim 10.

C. A. RILEY OVERSHOE HAVING HEEL-ABUTTING ELEMENT Oct. 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1947 Z -zL/Enh Patented Oct. 24.

OVERSHOE HAVING HEEL-ABUTTING ELEMENT Chester A. Riley, Melrose, Mass., assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 11, 1947, Serial No. 779,230

8 Claims.

This invention is concerned with an article of footwear adapted to be worn over open-heeled shoes and a method of maintaining such an article in position and is particularly concerned with an article of footwear having means for maintaining said article in position when worn over open-heeled shoes.

Rubber overshoes, galoshes and similar articles of footwear normally worn over shoes are usually maintained in position during use by means of a heel bulge which fits closely about the stiffened counter portion of a shoe worn therein. In the case of an open-heeled shoe, however, the counter portion of the shoe is omitted and the shoe is maintained on the wearers foot by a strap encircling the wearers foot or heel above the heel bulge. It is, therefore, necessary to provide auxiliary anchoring means to maintain an overshoetype article in position without interfering with the comfort of the wearer. This is especially true in the case of the so-called toe rubbers worn over high-heeled shoes in which only the forward portion of the shoe is encased and the rear portion of the rubber consists only of a heel-encircling strap. In the case of conventional shoes having a stiffened counter, the heel-encircling strap is normally positioned around the counter on the upper side of the heel bulge under substantial tension. In the case of open-heeled shoes, tension of the heel-encircling strap of the rubber causes discomfort if the strap is worn around the unprotected heel of the wearer. If worn down around the heel proper of the shoe, the strap is not readily maintained in position but tends to work its way down the heel.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article of footwear which is adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe and which is readily maintained in position over the shoe without exerting undue pressure on the unshod heel of the wearer or chafing the heel'in use. Further objects of the invention are to provide an article of footwear having means for insuring concurrent movement of the heel of the article and the heel of the open-heeled shoe positioned therein, and generally to provide an article fulfilling these objectives without sacrificing appearance and simplicity of design. Other objects will be apparent from the description which follows.

The foregoing objects are attained by an article of footwear with a heel-encircling portion having a shelfelike member projecting inwardly therefrom adapted to overlie a zone of the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe positioned in the article. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the shelf-like member is supplemented by a reinforcing member which is secured to a local arcuate rear zone of the inner face of the heel-encircling portion so that the two members form a cupping means for the heel of the shoe. Further, a supporting member may be used extending upwardly from the shelf-like member adapted to cup the unshod heel of the wearer.

The invention may be embodied in any article of footwear which may be worn over open-heeled shoes but is best understood by reference to a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the top of a toe rubber including a shelf-like member in accordance with the invention;

Fig.2 is a view in elevation partly broken away and in section of the toe rubber shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the heel-cupping means including the shelf-like member and the reinforcing member;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a toe rubber embodying the invention in place over an openheeled shoe;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation partially broken away and in section of an overshoe embodying a modification of the invention in position over an open-heeled shoe;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cupping means preferably used in combination with an overshoe in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. '7.

The toe rubber which constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a toe-encasing portion I0 com-- prising joined vamp and sole portions, a raised shank II and strap-like quarters which form aonly a part of the distance to the shank, and a reinforcing member I5 overlying a local zone of the heel-encircling portion [2 downwardly from the rear edge of member I 4. The shelf-like member preferably is a relatively thin sheet of material extending forwardly /2"-'l from the rear edge of the article at substantially the height of the uppermost portion of the raised shank. Both the shelf-like member and the reinforcing member preferably comprise rubber with a fabric insert, the fabric being used to impart stiffness to the members.

When worn over an open-heeled shoe (Fig. the heel-encircling portion [2 extends around the shoe heel proper at the upper margin thereof with the shelf-like member 14 overlying a rear zone of the upper heel face of the shoe between the heel of the wearer and the top heel face of the shoe. The heel-encircling portion [2 is of elastic material so that the portion may be stretched and pulled up around the shoe heel in donning. The portion I2 is preferably of such size that it is maintained under slight tension even with the shelf-like member [A in position over the heel face. Reinforcing member [5 preferably slants downwardly and forwardly to conform to the slope of the heel on a high-heeled shoe so that strap portion [2 tends to creep only downwardly along the heel, the downward creep being prevented by shelf-like member [4.

In the preferred embodiment, the shelf-like member [4 is beveled slightly so as to form a feather edge along the forward edge thereof, thus preventing chafing of the wearers heel. The reinforcing member i5 serves to maintain the assembly in cupping relation around the heel.

The invention may be embodied in any article of footwear which may be worn over open-heeled shoes. Thus, the heel-cupping means may be used in combination with a full rubber or a galosh or any similar article, provided the shelf-like member is positioned so that it contiguously overlies the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe positioned therein. The heel-cupping means serve to maintain the correct relative positioning of the article and shoe therein Without detracting from wearing comfort or appearance.

In the case of an overshoe, full rubber, galosh or similar article adapted to encase the entire shoe, the cupping means for the heel of the shoe is preferably employed in combination with a cupping means for the unshod heel of the wearer to prevent chafing of the unshod heel by the rear face of the heel-encircling portion. An overshoe embodying this modification of the invention (Fig. 6) comprises a sole 20, vamp 2i and quarters 22, 22 joined in a shoe-encasing assembly extending up around the ankle of the wearer and defining a heel pocket 24 of sufficient depth to accommodate the heel of a shoe worn therein and a heel bulge 23 above pocket 24.

A cupping member 26 (Fig. '7) adapted to cup both the unshod heel of the wearer and the heel of the shoe is disposed inside heel bulge 23 and secured thereto. Member 26 preferably comprises a relatively stiff but flexible generally concave-convex element of rubbery material or the like having the convex rear face 21 adapted to conform to the contour of heel bulges 23 and having the upper portion of the forward face 28 thereof dished so as to cup the unshod heel of the wearer.

Member 26 is of greater cross-sectional thickness at the lower edge of the generally concave forward face 28 and preferably has a feather edge forming the upper margin 30 of the member with the member graduall increasing in thickness downwardly and inwardly from margin 30. The forward face is sharply undercut in the lower marginal region of the member across the lateral extent thereof forming a rabbeted marginal region with a lower portion 3| of reduced thickness extending downwardly from the overhanging member proper. The overhang of the rabbeted edge acts as the shelf-like member of the toe rubber to overlie a rear zone of the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe and thus hold the heel between the overhang and the bottom of the heel pocket, effectively preventing vertical movement of the heel relative to the heel pocket. The lower portion 3| serves to reinforce and stiffen a local rear zone of the heel bulge and together with the overhang forms a cupping means for the shoe heel.

The member 26 is positioned so that the overhang is slightly above the height of the shank of the article with the lower portion 3| extending into the heel pocket 24. In this way the dished face cups the wearers heel and prevents vertical movement of the unshod heel relative to the overshoe thus eliminating chafing of the heel. With the wearers heel thus cupped and the shoe heel firmly anchored beneath the undercut face, the shoe, overshoe and foot of the wearer all move together in walking and correct positioning is maintained at all times.

The overshoe is made of such size that the rear edge of the shoe heel can be slipped under the overhang of the counter when the overshoe is opened down the front for donning. When the overshoe is closed by means of a slide fastener or the like the overshoe fits closely enough about the shoe to prevent the shoe heel from slipping out from under the overhang. The heel pocket of the overshoe is preferably made of elastic material such as rubber or the like. This allows the pocket to be stretched vertically to fit over the shoe heel under slight vertical tension so that the shoe heel is firmly held between the overhang and the bottom of the heel pocket. The elastic heel pocket is also ableto accommodate heels having height variationsv of as much as /2", thus. obviating the possibility of the heel pocket being too deep for the shoe heel which would result in a vertical pumping action in use.

The member 26 may comprise a single element separate from but secured to the overshoe proper substantially as described or may comprise an integral part of the overshoe as in the case of a molded overshoe. The overhanging portion of member 28 may be used alone but preferably is used in conjunction with a reinforcing member which may comprise a separate piece but desirably forms the lower margin of the counter as in the preferred embodiment.

The invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a toe rubber which constitutes a preferred embodiment and an overshoe constituting a modification of the invention but it will. be understood that further variations and modifications may be effected in an article embodying the invention within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Article of footwear adapted to be worn over open-heeledshoes. said article comprising a shoeencasing member including a heel-encircling portion defining a heel pocket, said heel-encircling portion having associated therewith ina. rear zone thereof a relatively stiff generally concave cupping member of gradually increasing crosssectional thickness downwardly from the upper edge of said member, the lower portion of the forward face of saidmember being rabbeted across. substantially the extentthereof forming a lower portion of reduced thickness, the rabbeted lower portion being adapted to cup the upper rear portion of the heel of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

2. Article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper rear heel face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a rearwardly extending heel portion for embracing the heel of said shoe, said heel portion having a relatively stiff shell-like member with a generally flat bottom face extending forwardly from a rear zone of said heel portion tapering in thickness to a forward feather edge in a position to rest upon the rear marginal portion of the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

3. Article of footwear adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe, said article comprising a heel-encircling portion having associated with a rear zone thereof a relatively stiff generally concave cupping member which increases gradually in thickness downwardly from the upper edge thereof having an angular recess across substantially the entire transverse extent of the lower portion of the forward face thereof, said recess being adapted to cup the upper rear portion of the heel of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

4. Article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a, rearwardly extending heel portion for embracing the heel of said shoe, said heel portion having a relatively stiff shelflike member with a generally flat bottom face projecting inwardly from said heel portion along a rear zone thereof and terminating inwardly at a feather edge in a position to rest upon a marginal portion of the upper heel face of an openheeled shoe positioned in said article and to form with said heel portion an angular recess adapted to cup the upper rear edge of said open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

5. Article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper rear heel face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a rearwardly extending looped heel band for embracing the heel of said shoe, said heel band having a cupping means secured to a rear zone of the inner face of said band, said cupping means comprising a reinforcing member for a localized rear zone of said heel band and a generally fiat shelf-like member, relatively thin as compared with the width of said band, projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said reinforcing member and terminating forwardly at a feather edge, said shelf-like member being in a position to rest upon a rear marginal portion of the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article and said cupping means being in a position to cup the rear edge of the upper heel face of said open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

6. Article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper rear heel face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a rearwardly extending looped portion for embracing the heel of said shoe, said looped portion having a shelf-like member with a generally flat bottom face, relatively thin as compared to the width of said looped portion, extending forwardly from the upper margin of said looped portion across the extent of an arcuate rear Zone of said looped portion and terminating forwardly at a feather edge to form an angular recess with said looped portion in a position to cup the upper rear edge of the heel of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

An article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper rear heel face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a rearwardly extending heel portion for embracing the heel of said shoe, said heel portion having secured to it in a rear zone thereof a relatively stiff member extending forwardly from a rear zone thereof and terminating forwardly in a feather edge, said member having a generally flat bottom face in a position to rest upon the rear marginal portion of the upper heel face of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

8. Article of footwear, adapted to be worn over an open-heeled shoe wherein the upper rear heel face of said shoe is exposed, said article comprising an upper including a rearwardl'y extending heel portion for embracing the heel of said shoe, said heel portion having associated with a rear Zone thereof a relatively stiff generally concave cupping member which increases gradually in thickness downwardly from the upper edge thereof and which has an angular recess across substantially the entire transverse extent of the lower portion of the forward face thereof forming a forward feather edge and a generally fiat bottom face in said recessed portion, said recess being in a position to cup the upper rear portion of the heel of an open-heeled shoe positioned in said article.

CHESTER A. RILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,492 Benedict Mar. l, 1890 604,367 Campbell May 24, 1898 801,029 Mardis Oct. 3, 1905 1,208,772 Goodyear Dec. 19, 1916 1,209,660 Baum Dec. 26, 1916 1,637,809 Dykes Sept. 2, 1927 1,641,535 DeNoronha Sept. 6, 1927 1,727,587 Dykes Sept. 10, 1929 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,526,774 October 24, 1950 CHESTER A. RILEY It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 63, for the Word bulges read bulge; line 67, for greater read greatest; column 5, line 11, for shell-like read shelf-like; line 31, before face insert heel;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of March, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

